Folding tower crane



Dec. 15, 1964 J, NQLY 3,161,299

FOLDING TOWER CRANE Filed March 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1964 J. NOLY 3,1

FOLDING TOWER CRANE Filed March 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,161,239 FULDING TOWER CRANE Jean Noly, La Ciayette, France, assignor to Etabiissemerits F. Potain dz Cie, La (Ilayette, France, a French joint-stock company Fiied Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,989 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 6, 1962, 42,450, Patent 1,327,241 3 Elairns. (Cl. 212-46) My invention relates to foldable tower cranes of the kind in which a tower hinges onto a supporting frame whereon the crane may be horizontally pivoted when it has to be transferred to another place, and it more particularly concerns the case of very high cranes having a big span.

In the conventional folding tower cranes, the load of the supporting frame is incorrectly distributed either when the crane is ready for use, or when it is folded in view of being transported. Moreover, the space taken up by the folded crane is so important that a normal transfer by road is generally impossible.

My invention has for its object avoidance of these difficulties and provision of an arrangement facilitating the crane transfer and the performance of the raising, operation.

In accordance with my invention the tower crane comprises a jib hinged to the top of a tower and foldable against the said tower, which itself comrises a number of removable telescopic elements. In the folded position the crane comprises superposed horizontal parts of reduced length, and the tower may be telescoped in successive stages by using a special lower element having removable tackle pulleys for a telescoping cable, while the raising of the tower is obtained by actuating the telescoping cable in cooperation with a retaining device. The middle post or head of the crane is then raised by means of a tackle raising cable having a constant length, the jib simultaneously being raised by the cooperation of a tie-rod having a constant length. The crane may be folded in two stages: firstly the jib and the tower are brought again to a horizontal position by releasing the telescoping cable and under the influence of gravity, and secondly the telescopic elements of the tower are disassembled while exerting a traction on the hoisting cable.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the folded crane, showing the removable lower element having tackle pulleys for the telescoping cable.

FIG. 2 is a similar view thereof illustrating the horizontal telescopic extension.

FIG. 3 is a view of the crane after raising of the tower and before raising of the jib.

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view of the lower part of the tower corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing the telescoping cable network.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmental views showing the retaining device at different operating positions.

FIG. 8 is a partial view showing the hoisting cable network.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show details of the hoisting cable and of the endless distributing cable.

In FIG. 1, the crane comprises a frame 1 having wheels 2 which may be disassembled if it is desired to put the frame 1 directly on the ground. A rotary support 3 is rotatably carried by the frame l, and it comprises two lateral frames 4 supporting a transverse axle onto which is pivotally mounted the tower of the crane. The said tower comprises a lower element 6 directly hinged onto the axle 5 and having its lower portion in contact with the support 3 when occupying a vertical position. Within the lower element 6 is slidably disposed a part of the ice tower comrising an upper element 7 and a removable special lower element 9 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3).

At the end of the upper element 7 is rigidly secured a counter-jib 8 which pivotally carries two loose pulleys l4 and 15. Moreover, the upper portion of said upper element 7 pivotally carries a middle post or head 10 having a terminal pulley 11, a main jib 12 the terminal part 13 which is itself pivotally carried by said jib 12 and carries a loose pulley 16.

The end of the head It) is connected to the jib 12 by means of a tie-rod 17 having a constant length. Adjacent the lower end of the lower element 6 is pivotally disposed a retaining device comprising a ratchet 18 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7) which hinges about a shaft 19 and its rocking movements are controlled by a compression spring 20. One end 18a of the ratchet 18 comprises an oblique portion having a retaining edge 1811 which, under action of said spring 20, engages notches 7a and 9a (FIG. 4) respectively situated at the lower portion of the elements 7 and 9, in order to permit a relative displacement of the tower in the direction of the arrow 21 (FIG. 7) and to avoid any relative movement in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow 22 (FIG. 6).

The special lower element 9 comprises two removable sets of tackle pulleys 23, 24 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4) cooperating with a pulley 26, the shaft of which is rigidly secured to the support 3, and with pulleys 27, 28 and 29 (FIG. 4), the shafts of which are attached to the tower element 6, for tackling a telescoping cable 25.

The support 3 of the crane carries two winches 30 and 36 and the shell of a pulley 35 (FIG. 3).

The crane is operated by the use of four different cables, namely:

(a) a telescoping cable 25 attached at one end to a point 25a of the tower element 6 and then successively passing over the pulleys 26, 24, 27, 23, 28, 29 (FIG. 4) before winding on the driving drum of the telescoping winch 30.

(b) a raising cable 31 having a constant length (FIG. 3) and being attached at its end 31a to the counter-jib 8 (FIG. 3) before successively passing over the pulleys 11 and 14, whereafter it is fixed at its other end 31b to the crane support 3.

(c) a hoisting cable 31 (FIGS. 8, 9) attached at its end 32:: to the end of the jib before successively passing over the set of pulleys of a hoisting carriage 33 and of a tackled hoisting hook 34 supported thereby, then over the pulleys 16, 15 (and 35 when the tower is he horizontal position), whereafter the said cable 32 winds on the rotary drum of the hoisting winch 36.

(d) an endless distributing cable 37 stretching between pulleys 38 and 39 (FIGS. 8, 9, 10) carried by the jib 12- 13 and controlling by means of a distributing winch 4f! the displacement of the hoisting carriage 33 to which it is attached. This displacement consists of a translation of carriage 33 along the distributing jib 1243, in order to bring the hoisting hook 34 vertically above a load to be elevated.

The operation is as follows:

When the crane is folded (FIG. 1), the raising cable 31 and the hoisting cable 32 are loose. The drum of the winch 36 is actuated and it may freely rotate under action of the cable 32 when bringing the latter under tension. The terminal part 13 is hinged down and brought into alignment with the jib 12. The special lower element 9 then being rigidly secured to the upper element '7 (FIGS. 1, 2), the telescoping cable 25 is put into operation. It is then only necessary to actuate the telescoping winch 36 for displacing to the left the telescopic portion of the crane, after having first temporarily released the ratchet 18 in order to permit the notch 7a to be displaced. The tower is then telescoped by the cooperation of the four-way cable portion of the tackle situated between the pulleys 27, 28 on the one hand, 23-24 on the other hand, until the notch 9a (FIG. 4) comes into abutment against the retaining edge 18b of ratchet 18. From this moment, it will be understood that when continuing to actuate the winch 30, the whole tower is upwardly rocked (arrow 42 FIG. 3) the same pivoting about the transverse axle 5 under action of the cable and tackle situated on both sides of the pulley 26 (FIGS. 2, 4). After this operation the raising cable 31 'is under tension (FIG. 3).

The tower being definitively locked in a vertical position, the ratchet I8 'is' again temporarily thrown back in orderto .permit the notch 9a to be displaced. When actuating the winch 30, the tower elements 7 "and 9 are vertically telescoped and'r'aised under action of the above mentioned four-way cable portion tackle. This raising of the upper element 7 has for a consequence the raising of the :jib 12 by the cooperation of the tie-rod 17, under The winch 30 is released thus permitting the upper" ment that may be secured to the lower portion of said upper element with which it may be telescopically moved Within said lower element; a removable double set of tackle pulleys disposed at the lower portion of said removable element; a counter-jib rigidly secured to the upper portion of the said upper element; a head pivotally supported by the upper portion of said upper element; a jib pivotally supported at the upper portion of said upper element and connected to the end of said head by means of a tie-rod having a constant length; a hoisting carriage movable along said jib and comprising a set of tackle pulleys over which runs a hoisting cable carrying a hoisting hook; a telescoping winch and a hoisting winch both fixed to said support; a distributing winch fixed to said jib; a telescoping cable attached at one end to the lower portion of said lower element and successively passing over a pulley carried by said support, pulleys forming one part of said removable double set of tackle pulleys, a pulley carried by the upper portion of said lower element, pulleys forming the other part of said double set of tackle pulleys, another'pulley carried by the upper portion of said lower element, a pulley carried by the lower portion of said lower element, the other ends of said cable being attached to said telescoping element 7 and theiupper part of the crane to lower'by gravity effect. The upper element7 slides down into the lower element 6 until the jib 12 lies against the tower (FIG. 3).

' he hoisting hook 34 is brought close to the hoisting carriage 33 which has been placed on the terminal part 13 (FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and the whole tower is swung downwardly in the known manner about theltransverse axle 5. The crane being disposed as illustrated in FIG, 8, it is only necessary toactuate the winch 36 for displacing the jib and the telescopic tower portionin the direction of arrows 41 (FIG. 6). The ratchet 18 is automatically thrown back when one of the notches 7a or 9a passes in front thereof(FIG. 7).

When the. special lower element 9 :is entirely situated 'out of the lower element 6, it is disassembled from the upper element 7. This operation is realized by disassembling thespecial element 9 from the removable tackle pulleys 23, 24 which are then mounted on the base of upper element 7. All the cables are thus kept in order when removing special element 9. Then by" the desired number'o'f added tower elements.

What I claim is: 1. A folding'tower'c'rane comprising: a support having lateral frames carryinga transverse axle; a telescopic tower consisting of a lower element pivotally supported bysaid transverse axle, an upper elementvslidably disposed within said lower element, and a removable -ele- I winch; a raising cable having a constant length attached at one end to said counter-jib and successively passing 'over a pulley carried by the end of said head and over a first pulley carried by the end of said counter-jib before being attached at its other end to said support; said hoisting cable attached at one end to the outer end of 'the jib and successively passing over, said tackle pulleys vof said hoisting carriage supporting said hoisting hook, a pulley adjacent the point where said jib is pivoted to saidupper tower element, a second pulley carried by the counter-jib, the other end of said hoisting cable being attached to said hoisting winch; a distributing cable stretching between pulleys at both ends of said jib winding about the drum of said distributing winch and attached at its ends to said hoisting carriage controlling the movernent ofsa id carriage along said jib; and a restraining device permitting said upper element and said removable elementto be slidably displaced within said lower element 'in one direction only. v

' 2. A folding tower crane as claimed in'claim 1, wherein said restraining device comprises; a rocking ratchet pivotally carried by the lower portion of said lower element and having an :oblique portion directed towards said upper element, a notch situated at the lower portion of said upper element; a notch situated at the lower portion of, said removable element; and a compression spring urging said ratchet towards said notches. I

3. A folding tower crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jib comprises two folding section's pivotally connected. H

i References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/60 Clements 21255 5'/62 Rau et a1. 212-55 

1. A FOLDING TOWER CRANE COMPRISING: A SUPPORT HAVING LATERAL FRAMES CARRYING A TRANSVERSE AXLE; A TELESCOPIC TOWER CONSISTING OF A LOWER ELEMENT PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID TRANSVERSE AXLE, AN UPPER ELEMENT SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID LOWER ELEMENT,AND A REMOVABLE ELEMENT THAT MAY BE SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID UPPER ELEMENT WITH WHICH IT MAY BE TELESCOPICALLY MOVED WITHIN SAID LOWER ELEMENT; A REMOVABLE DOUBLE SET OF TACKLE PULLEYS DISPOSED AT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID REMOVABLE ELEMENT; A COUNTER-JIB RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SAID UPPER ELEMENT; A HEAD PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID UPPER ELEMENT; A JIB PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED AT THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID UPPER ELEMENT AND CONNECTED TO THE END OF SAID HEAD BY MEANS OF A TIE-ROD HAVING A CONSTANT LENGTH; A HOISTING CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG SAID JIB AND COMPRISING A SET OF TACKLE PULLEYS OVER WHICH RUNS A HOISTING CABLE CARRYING A HOISTING HOOK; A TELESCOPING WINCH AND A HOISTING WINCH BOTH FIXED TO SAID SUPPORT; A DISTRIBUTING WINCH FIXED TO SAID JIB; A TELESCOPING CABLE ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LOWER ELEMENT AND SUCCESSIVELY PASSING OVER A PULLEY CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT, PULLEYS FORMING ONE PART OF SAID REMOVABLE DOUBLE SET OF TACKLE PULLEYS, A PULLEY CARRIED BY THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID LOWER ELEMENT, PULLEYS FORMING THE OTHER PART OF SAID DOUBLE SET OF TACKLE PULLEYS, ANOTHER PULLEY CARRIED THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID LOWER ELEMENT, A PULLEY CARRIED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LOWER ELEMENT, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID CABLE BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TELESCOPING WINCH; A RAISING CABLE HAVING A CONSTANT LENGTH ATTACHED AT ONE END TO SAID COUNTER-JIB AND SUCCESSIVELY PASSING OVER A PULLEY CARRIED BY THE END OF SAID HEAD AND OVER A FIRST PULLEY CARRIED BY THE END OF SAID COUNTER-JIB BEFORE BEING ATTACHED AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID SUPPORT; SAID HOISTING CABLE ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE OUTER END OF THE JIB AND SUCCESSIVELY PASSING OVER, SAID TACKLE PULLEYS OF SAID HOISTING CARRIAGE SUPPORTING SAID HOISTING HOOK, A PULLEY ADJACENT THE POINT WHERE SAID JIB IS PIVOTED TO SAID UPPER TOWER ELEMENT, A SECOND PULLEY CARRIED BY THE COUNTER-JIB, THE OTHER END OF SAID HOISTING CABLE BEING ATTACHED TO SAID HOISTING WINCH; A DISTRIBUTING CABLE STRETCHING BETWEEN PULLEYS AT BOTH ENDS OF SAID JIB WINDING ABOUT THE DRUM OF SAID DISTRIBUTING WINCH AND ATTACHED AT ITS ENDS TO SAID HOISTING CARRIAGE CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID JIB; AND A RESTRAINING DEVICE PERMITTING SAID UPPER ELEMENT AND SAID REMOVABLE ELEMENT TO BE SLIDABLY DISPLACED WITHIN SAID LOWER ELEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY. 